The Guild Guitars

Welcome to Bozo's Guild guitars web page... if this is not where you intended
to go, please exercise the "Back" arrow to return from whence you came. Otherwise...

My first exposure to Guild guitars came in 1964 when I decided to trade in my Epiphone 12-string guitar on a better model.
So three of my friends and I piled into the car and headed for Fort Lauderdale's Ace Music Store to see what was available.
While I no longer recall the salesperson's name, I remember he took several minutes to ask me about what I was looking for
in my new 12-string and, after hearing my responces, led me directly to the Guilds. Their amazing bass response and clarity
hooked me immediately and I returned to Fort Myers that day with my brand new F-212 wrapped in my arms.

Since that day I have acquired several other Guilds for primarily the same reasons that I chose the 12-string - great bass
response, low profile necks and great playability.

My next guild guitar wasn't acquired until 1978 when, while working in NYC, I decided I needed a guitar for the company apartment
so I could play while sI was away from my home (and all of my guitars). So, while out on one of my treks through the music
district, I came across a 1965 Guild M-20 "parlor" guitar. It was perfect for what I needed, small, light weight and not as
loud as dreadnaughts or Jumbos. I kept it in the NYC apartment until summer when I took it back to NH with me so I could use
it at Lake Winnepesaukee during weekend vacations with friends. While there one weekend, another friend of the owners of the
cottage we were staying in came up to the lake and while sitting around playing and singing old folk songs, she said, "You know, I
have a guitar just like that at home. I never play it - are you interested in having another one?". Is the Pope Catholic? Does
a bear ... well, you get the picture. I came up with the older sister of my M-20, a 1963 Guild M-20.

It was almost 30 years until my next Guild guitar. It came after I discovered eBay as a source for used guitars. When I started
looking at acoustic guitar auctions I saw an ad for a 1978 Guild D-35, which is a deep-bodied dreadnaught designed for bluegrass
players and the like.

My final foray into the Guild guitar market was for a D55, the flagship model of Guild (or used to be). Again, eBay was the source
of choice and I found a very nice 1997 Antique Sunburst D-55 for a reasonable price; it actually was in better condition than was
advertised as it only showed light playing wear. Shortly after buying this example I bought a new (2004) D-55 from a NY dealer cheap due
to there being finish cracks in the top gloss coat. After playing it for only a short time, I decided I didn't have the time to play
it enough to get it to open up so it got put back into its case and then into the vault.

So concludes the tour of the Guild guitars currently in my collection. Hope you've enjoyed taking it as much as I've enjoyed reliving the acquisition
and playing of these examples. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.